Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris Shannon 719

Warning. I am, alas, taking a vacation for Thanksgiving, and I've decided to take a vacation from computers as well. That means I will not be able to post much, if at all, starting Sunday night and ending next Sunday morning.

A full week without me. Sorry, but I'm sure you'll get over it. I'll try to contribute from phone a little, but I suck at the phone post so do not expect much of me.

I apologize, but there it is. It's my first actual PbP break I think. Hopefully I don't break out in hives...

I blame his St. Cuthbertine brother.

This will not stand!

Sorry I've been absent, but been busy. Like Atol I'll be on vacation and without computer so we're on hiatus until after Thanksgiving. If you're dying to do something you can LEVEL UP. Congrats!

Sorry I've been absent, but been busy. Like Atol I'll be on vacation and without computer so we're on hiatus until after Thanksgiving. If you're dying to do something you can LEVEL UP. Congrats!

YAY! I should get this up in a day or two.

Rock on. Enjoy the TG holiday.

Happy Pilgrims-Were-Wankers Day, everyone!

Level up info:

Alchemist lvl 13

+7 HP
Sneak attack 7d6
+1 5th level extract
Formula; Delayed consumption

+1 Acrobatics
+2 Diplomacy
+1 Knowledge Dungeoneering
+1 Knowledge Nature
+1 Perception
+1 Sense motive

Also, I think we can sell Toffitt's slippers of spider climb rather safely, no?

+1 Chevalier

6+3 HP

+1 BAB
+1 REF

Controlled Charge No AC penalty for charging.
Stubborn Mind Save fail vs. enchantment, reroll next round.

+1 Perception
+3 Fly

NEXT LEVEL (14) (Cleric 13)
+7 HP (5 class, +1 favored class, +1 toughness) (total 99)
+2 skills (2 class, -1Int, +1 Human)(Diplomacy x2)
+1d6 Channel Energy
+1 Fourth level spell (normally Sending, but for now he'll take Blessings of Fervor just in case...)
+2 Seventh level spells (Grasping Hand*, Summon Monster VII)

Note: Still not taking save-or-die spells. Feeling it's just out of what's right for our game. I could be wrong...but happy to die wrong.

* * Dyrant Lvl 14 * *

+1 Cuthbertist (Cudgeler of the South Winds)

+7 hp (+4 lvl +2 con +1 FC)

Spells:
Summon Monster VII
Waves of Exhaustion

+8 Skills:
+1 Spellcraft
+1 UMD
+3 Know (Planes)
+1 Know (Arcana)
+2 Know (Relgion)

Greater Hex:

Witch's Charge (Su): Once per day when preparing spells, a witch can designate a willing creature as her charge. She gains a constant status effect on this creature and can target it with beneficial touch spells from a range of 30 feet. The creature remains her charge until she designates a new one. Source: Champions of Purity

Unless otherwise noted, the subject of Dyrant's charge will be Finneas, the SmokedEye.

Dear Atol,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and in fine standing. And I hope your garden grows much like the Spirit of St. Cuthbert grows in all of us. We must tend to the souls of our flock much like you tend to the rutabagas of the Holy Cudgel.

On the manner of protecting our flock, I require some prayers from the Holy Cudgel and I hope you might provide them.

I seek the following...goes off into vivid descriptions of things he would like.

1 Air Bubble
1 Breath of Life
1 Magic Circle Prot Evil 10'
1 Remove Curse
1 Resist Energy

May your Cudgel be dull, but it's might be sharp.

-Dyrant (with a purse of gold)

Note to self: make sure you have the following scrolls
1 Death Ward
1 Freedom of Movement

Just got back from vacation and am dead-beholder-tired - will take care of Glim's leveling in the morning!

Glimmil was a quick one to level up this time...

Level 14
+1 Level in Paladin (now Pal13/Cav1)
+10HP (6 base, 3 Con, 1 favored class) => 140HP

+1st Level Spell (Divine Favor)
+4th Level Spell (Resounding Blow)

+1 Disable Device
+1 Ride

Cog
+9 HP (5 base, 4 Con) => 108HP
Attribute Increase (+1 Str)
+1 Acrobatics

Note: Still not taking save-or-die spells. Feeling it's just out of what's right for our game. I could be wrong...but happy to die wrong.

I shall endeavor to make you happy.

Dyrant Maynor, the Pre-Sainted wrote:

Note: Still not taking save-or-die spells. Feeling it's just out of what's right for our game. I could be wrong...but happy to die wrong.

I shall endeavor to make you happy.

*sigh*

Left my book at home so we're on hold until tonight. There are a few creatures on the third level that I was going to just narrate through, but there is also a chance for role play. Unfortunately, I don't recall the particulars well enough to do it without the book.

"Between the two of them, they should be able to mop the room with the PC's guts."

Still amused by some of the assumptions in the book. I suspect part of it is due to the power creep between 3.5 and PFS and part is due to good players, but really? Hence, the inclusion of the fire giant now rather than later.

Yeah, I don't think it's good players at this point. I mean, methinks the power creep is pretty severe at this level. If you're not already slapping on the advanced template on everything once or twice, then I wouldn't begrudge it.

I'd agree, it's late-3.5 era and subsequently Pathfinder power creep that's magnified at level 10+ play.

We also have roughly 4 full/nearly-full spell-casters in this group (witch/cleric/oracle/alchemist) and the 5th member is a paladin, so we're also on the more powerful side of a typical Pathfinder group.

As opposed to adding the Advanced Template everywhere, I usually hold a group of PCs back so they are a slightly lower level than the adventure, so eventually when the 3.5 module says "intended for level 18 PCs", I have the group actually undertake that as 15th level.

I suppose. I've just never played up to level 20, and would love to experience it all the way through. But I can only imagine how aggravating this weill be for GM_Chris by that point. :-p

There are things we can do as players too. For example I don't feel Atol is overpowered at all. For one thing he's a core class - and there is less power creep there. And for another I have a role play level so I'm already operating one level below the others.

Then of course I don't always make optimized choices. Easy for me because Atol is a little slower (as am I!), but we can all introduce a little of that (like Dyrant forgoing certain powerful spells and abilities that might be available to him).

It's just a balancing act really, but when we all optimize we make it harder on the DM... We just need to make more 'mistakes' in our builds and in our play. :D

As opposed to adding the Advanced Template everywhere, I usually hold a group of PCs back so they are a slightly lower level than the adventure, so eventually when the 3.5 module says "intended for level 18 PCs", I have the group actually undertake that as 15th level.

I've been typically keeping the group 1 level below the suggested level. Maybe I should try for 2, but I'm also curious about the high level experience. I haven't played or GM'd characters this high since high school.

I'm loathe to comment on power level things. It's weird that this combat has gone so well (or is going well), but thought we could have had several casualties vs. the beholder. We tried to fight smart there.

I also don't have a lot of high level play experience. However, this is a good time to learn it as any.

However, in the big picture, combats are fun, but that are not key for me. Having opportunties to roleplay and be a part of exploring and telling the story are much more important. A few easy fights aren't going to ruin that...and we've had some really hard fights too.

I haven't played or GM'd characters this high since high school.

I've learned that folks play very differently in their "adult gaming sequel to high school". At least, the way I gamed in high school had a much higher fatality rate -- probably because of copious amounts of spare time to roll new PCs that is lacking in our lives these days.

I'd like to say that Glimmil isn't overly optimized, but he's a paladin, on a riding dog, with spirited charge. To Glim's credit though, I think he's only used it once in combat. :)

Clearly Toffitt is a bit overpowered, with an archetype that was probably rightly banned in PFS. Not suspect not the AM Barbarian level of broken, but still clearly ahead of the 3.5 curve.

I agree with Dyrant that the power issue is less important than having good opportunities to tell stories and roleplay. I feel a little flat about Toffitt these days. Not sure if that's because of the power level or just having failed to find newer hooks for roleplaying. Though I do enjoy thinking of him along the lines of Spock or Cmdr. Data.

I like the story, and Finneas is not optimized he really doesn't count. Toffitt is crazy, and paladin got such a buff in Pathfinder it's not even the same class. Still, I feel the big fights have been close.

Happy Holidays to you all! Thanks for being such great sources of entertainment / drug-dealers these last 2 ½ years. Here's to level 20!

Absolutely. Our Christmas holiday began here on Friday, so if I'm slow to post, it's something holiday-oriented consuming me for the whole day.

Best to everyone!

I have gone through the last several battles, starting with the battle royale with 20 different NPCs. Here is what I have found since our last major looting update (the loot from Fetor). I've tried to group the interesting stuff together at the top of each encounter, so we can mark any that would have been claimed. I'll begin throwing them into a spreadsheet with values, etc.

That's a lot of stuff.

Thanks for the work.

GM Gristle--

We have a lot of loot and not sure sure that Skie can handle or sell all the stuffs we have.

Would it better or preferable to pop over to Greyhawk (Greater Teleport: no range limit nor chance of error) for a shopping excursion? If not, can Skie procure what we need?

Dyrant has about 113,000k to spend.

How can we lootify? Or should we not expect to?

I doubt there is crafting time, right?

I was going to give the random chance for any requested items at Skie's and then the party can decide about a teleport. Or you can assume she wont' have it and go to Greyhawk. At this point, Skie is essentially NPC party member and would gladly share anything she actually had in her stores until threats have been eliminated. You can work out the details later. Going to Greyhawk will guarantee you will find what you need, you just won't get the discounts.

You could start crafting...

I've lost track of time. Let's call it early afternoon. You can plan from there:

-Greyhawk?
-Skie's
-Lady in the painting?
-Citizens and monsters turned to stone?
-The leads to the Cagewrights beneath Cauldron?
-Sharing the news that Vhalantru was a beholder with the town's leadership? Mayor is still missing.
-Other...

Atol suggests we go to Skie's and let her cherry pick/buy whatever she wants. Then we buy what she has to offer. Then one or more of us teleport to Grayhawk to sell the rest/buy our lists.

Meanwhile the balance of the party should meet with the town's leadership to let them know what's happening. Atol is very eager to go to his own church and fill them in so they can be on their guard - and maybe get some advice. (Though this country priest has an interest in visiting the big city someday...)

Tomorrow, with fresh spells, we free several of the citizens in paintings and statues (perhaps bolstered by a few party bought scrolls from Greyhawk?). After questioning them we follow the leads to the Cagewrights in the afternoon.

No crafting/scroll time as yet. Sigh. Evil opponents being evil! :)

Glimmil would gladly grab the amulet of natural armor for himself, and the belt of strength +2 for.... Cog!

Everything else could be sold. I was tempted by the wand of bull's strength, but it wouldn't stack with the belt(s).

Please go ahead and mark it in the sheet if you haven't. :-)

Full day of ushering at a play and then a date night with the wife. I'll answer questions, move things along tomorrow.

Celeste is trapped in the painting by a binding spell. You can figure out a solution from there. The limits are: "You can't dispel a binding spell with dispel magic or a similar effect, though an antimagic field or mage's disjunction affects it normally. A bound extraplanar creature cannot be sent back to its home plane by dismissal, banishment, or a similar effect." However, there is an alternate solution in the book and I'm open to other ideas.

In terms of items, if you'd like to speed things along you can roll the 5% chance (96-100 good) that Skie has an item for which you're looking.

Here is my wish list:

12000 Boots of speed 1d100 ⇒ 79
42000 Ring of inner fortitude, major 1d100 ⇒ 77 (-4 to ability damage & suppression, -2 to drain)
4000 Boro bead, lvl 2 1d100 ⇒ 73
1650 Scroll of find the path 1d100 ⇒ 47
19500 Holy comp long bow +1, adaptive 1d100 ⇒ 50
100 Weapon blanch, adamantine 1d100 ⇒ 67
200 Weapon blanch, ghost salt 1d100 ⇒ 18
4 cold iron arrows (40) 1d100 ⇒ 91
8 blunt silvered arrows (40) 1d100 ⇒ 59
600 Soul stimulant x 2 1d100 ⇒ 50 (suppresses 1 negative level for 12 hours)
-1700 Sell adaptive comp longbow +1

Total: 78362

Greyhawk it is! Though Toffitt isn't neager to go that route if it'll take more than a day.

Are any of these off limits for you, GM_Chris? Happy to go along with it if they are.

Dyrant is still preparing his shopping list...it makes Toffee's look quaint.

I think it will be a combination of Greyhawk for some items with some money left over for some crafting.

I should have it up tonight.

Cloak of Resistance +3 (9kgp) 96-00 is good: 1d100 ⇒ 14
Pearl of Power Second Level (4kgp) 96-00 is good: 1d100 ⇒ 76
Pearl of Power Third Level (9kgp) 96-00 is good: 1d100 ⇒ 80
Tunic of Careful Casting (5kgp) 96-00 is good: 1d100 ⇒ 62
Metamagic Rod (6), Reach (11kgp) 96-00 is good: 1d100 ⇒ 41
Spellguard Bracers (5kgp) 96-00 is good: 1d100 ⇒ 94
Campfire Bead (720gp) 96-00 is good: 1d100 ⇒ 82
Ring of Protection +4 (32kgp) 96-00 is good: 1d100 ⇒ 60
(Sell Ring Protection +2 for 4kgp)

Total: 71,720kgp - 4kgp == 67,720gp

How much treasure are we getting in this haul? I don’t see it broken down (or maybe I’m just blind). Someone said 70-something thousand at one point so I'm going by that estimate.

Also, on the Old Treasure Spreadsheet there’s a -6kgp for “+2 Wis/Cha for Atol’s phylactery” which didn’t get made and I’m no longer doing so that cash should be credited back to me on whatever sheet we’re using for that tracking going forward.

Still pushing things around, but leaning this way:

Dyrant monies:

$10,197.19 - from Gristle's SHAP treasure sheet
+8000 (set aside for crafting cloak, never used)
+15000 (set aside for crafting stone, never used)
+80000ish (current set of sales)
---------------
113000K ish.

27500 Tome of Clear Thought +1
20000 Luckstone
30000 Pale Green Ioun Stone
5000 Spellguard Bracers
----------------
82500 Initial shopping list

Crafting:
8000 Crafting Cloak to +5
700 scroll of Death Ward *2
9000 Craft PoP 3*2

Adjusting shopping list somewhat...

12000 Boots of speed
42000 Ring of inner fortitude, major (-4 to ability damage & suppression, -2 to drain)
4000 Boro bead, lvl 2
1650 Scroll of find the path
19500 Holy comp long bow +1, adaptive
100 Weapon blanch, adamantine
200 Weapon blanch, ghost salt
4 cold iron arrows (40)
8 blunt silvered arrows (40)
600 Soul stimulant x 2 (suppresses 1 negative level for 12 hours)
-1700 Sell adaptive comp longbow +1

Add the following scrolls and learning costs:
465 Scroll of arcane eye + learn Spellcraft v. DC17: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 96-100 good: 1d100 ⇒ 80
860 Scroll of restoration + learn Spellcraft v. DC19: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24 96-100 good: 1d100 ⇒ 19
860 Scroll of spell immunity + learn Spellcraft v. DC19: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24 96-100 good: 1d100 ⇒ 66
860 Scroll of death ward + learn Spellcraft v. DC19: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27 96-100 good: 1d100 ⇒ 91

New total: 81,395 gp

Finneas and Atol, I might suggest Boro Beads lvl 2 that allow you to re-use the Barkskin and Ablative Barrier spells I prep for you.

Atol will certainly buy a Boro Bead, level 2 (4kgp) for the good Doctor. I'll have the cash.

Sorry, but having a hard time getting the creative juices flowing tonight. Busy and good holidays, but very frustrated and stressed by work. Having a hard time letting the anger go. The protests are finally over though and I'll actually have 4 days of vacation without answering emails all day long, so hopefully I'll feel rejuvenated after a real night's sleep.

On the flip side, I did go buy myself a top of the line iPAD mini tonight with a portion of all the overtime. Sure makes it easier to watch Netflix while on the treadmill compared to my phone screen.

Thanks again to Bernie for all the loot management help. If I'm reading (scanning) things right, it looks like there's enough loot for about 80,000 gp per person. How about we do that and start fresh. For some reason, I haven't been enjoying spreadsheets as much. Probably something to do with all the staffing details.

Ain't no thang, GM Gristle.

That sounds fine. Take care of the important stuff.

Absolutely fine. Life comes first, then gaming, then gaming paperwork. :) Simple is easier on poor Atol. I was going to donate all my overage this time to the church anyway to simplify my own accounting.

I would also like to return Toffitt's spider climb slippers to the group. If anyone wants to wear them, be my guest. Or sell them.

Yes. Still here. Really. Should have some posts up by the end of the day. Thank you again for your patience.

Been contemplating Glimmil's shopping spree for the past week or so. Let me know if anything in here is too presumptuous...

headband of charisma +2 to +4 : 16K-4K = -12K
sell: belt of strength +2 = +2K
belt of physical perfection +2 = -16K
ring of evasion = -25K
cloak of resistance +2 to +5 : 12.5K-2K = -10.5K
winged boots = -16K
handy haversack = -2K
potion, remove blindness = -750g
--
TOTAL SPENT: -80.25K

Just so I'm clear. A trip to Skie's the afternoon/evening of the return from Vhalantru's place. The trip to Sasserine or Grayhawk the next day after spells have been reset.